NVIDIA holds patent on GPU Tesselation.

[Wreckage]

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi.../6906716&RS=PN/6906716

Integrated tessellator in a graphics processing unit

I wonder how this affects what is currently being done with DX11?

This thread has drifted off topic, not that it was ever really on topic. I see no real discussion here; just accusations of trolling. dajeepster, v8envy, and Idontcare have provided all the necessary commentary to show that the OP for the most part is much ado about nothing. -Anandtech Senior Moderator DrPizza

 

[lavaheadache]

where do you come up with some of this stuff?

 

[manutdc]

Don't you think that, if there really was something there giving NVIDIA some advantage over ATI/AMD that they'd already have thought of it, considering the HD4000 series had hardware tessellation?

 

[thilanliyan]

I like Wreckage's sig. Authoritarian describes nV perfectly these days...well they're trying to anyway.

 

[Barfo]

Wow...do you have a free trolling card or something like that?

 

[lopri]

The abstract sounds way too generic. You'll probably need to read the details to learn what exactly NV owns.

BTW has anyone seen this? Apple beats MS/Intel/AMD/NV combined when it comes to creativity!

 

[AnandThenMan]

Wreckage has some sort of advanced patent on trolling, very impressive.

 

[wlee15]

DirectX 11's way is better

http://images.anandtech.com/re...ideo/dx11/tesspipe.png

http://www.google.com/patents?...4#v=onepage&q=&f=false

 

[sandorski]

I own the Patent for Internet Trolling. You're monthly License Fee is $50(US), you are currently in Arrears.

 

[dajeepster]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi.../6906716&RS=PN/6906716

Integrated tessellator in a graphics processing unit

I wonder how this affects what is currently being done with DX11?

here are the main claims from the patent:
What is claimed is:
1. An integrated circuit disposed on a single chip and having a graphics hardware pipeline for graphics processing, the integrated circuit comprising: (a) a tessellation module adapted to receive data for tessellation; (b) a transform module for transforming data received from the tessellation module from a first space to a second space; (c) a lighting module for performing lighting operations on data received from the transform module; and (d) a rasterizer for rendering data received from the lighting module; wherein the integrated circuit is operable to tessellate, transform, light, and render data.

11. A method for graphics processing in a single integrated circuit, comprising: (a) tessellating data; (b) transforming the data from a first space to a second space; (c) lighting the data; and (d) rendering the data; wherein the data is tessellated, transformed, lighted, and rendered on the single integrated circuit.

 

[spankure]

Great for Nvidia, they have a paper.

Ati released a working card with tesselation 8 years ago.

 

[v8envy]

Both companies own patents in use by the others. Which is why every global company has cross-licensing agreements with their competitors. Intel uses AMD patents, AMD uses Intel patents, NV and ATI couldn't build anything more complex than a basic VGA card without massive cross-licensing with dozens of other companies.

So what exactly are you trying to get at here, OP?

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: v8envy
Both companies own patents in use by the others. Which is why every global company has cross-licensing agreements with their competitors. Intel uses AMD patents, AMD uses Intel patents, NV and ATI couldn't build anything more complex than a basic VGA card without massive cross-licensing with dozens of other companies.

So what exactly are you trying to get at here, OP?

You know damn well what he is trying to get at.... And no I'm not yelling at you , lol

 

[Idontcare]

Anybody who works in patent law or has patents themselves knows that there are as many ways to skin a cat as there are business entities trying to skin that cat for a living.

Each business entity will at a minimum invent their own way of skinning the cat (called "carving out an IP space") which can be covered by their own patent portfolio if for nothing else than to use as leverage in cross-licensing deals to gain access to the patents that allow for much easier skinning of cats.

It should come as no surprise that NV has tessellation patents, AMD will have tessellation patents too, as will Intel and anyone else interested in being in the graphics business.

The difference between all the patents is that no two will be alike, they will differ in terms of their covered implementations, methods, and practices...and as such some will cover methods that are easier to implement or produce superior results, etc than the others.

Sometimes companies will file patents that cover/overlap on nearly the same IP space, that's when lawyers get involved to sort out who actually should have been awarded the patent if in fact the conflicting patent claims made it past the patent reviewers. Even though these events dominate the headlines so to you and us it might seem like it this happens all the time, the reality is that conflicting patent awards rarely happen. (but when they do, and the sparks fly, it can make for spectacular news stories)

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Thread translation by yours truly:

"Crap, I saw the Unigine DX11 benchmark in the other thread and almost jizzed my pants. I cant believe my beloved Nvidia doesnt have a card out capable to rendering that. In any way, Ill spread a bit more FUD to buy them some time."

 

[SlowSpyder]

ATi patented a tessellation unit as well. Much the same way as Nvidia got SLi when they aquired 3DFX, I'm sure this is now AMD's as well.

More.

More yet.

There is a big difference between the two companies though. AMD has been actually using their tessellation patents and including tessellators in their silicon for generations now, Nvidia's exists on paper only.

 

[Lonyo]

Wreckage holds a patent on posting pointless troll threads.

 

[crazylegs]

I love how wreckage has gone too far, on soo many occasions that he is now jsut a laughing stock of these forums!

Keep up the good work dude, ppl associated with NV must loveeeee how much awesome work you do for them...

 

[DaveSimmons]

FUD post is FUD.

Obviously both nVidia and ATI/AMD have portfolios of patents, as does MS. No, this patent does not mean there is something to fear from buying a non-nVidia graphics card.

 

[bryanW1995]

SHIT dave, I wish that I had read your post 3 minutes earlier. I read wreckage's post and immediately cancelled my 5850 order due to the fear of tessalation patent violation, the uncertainty of whether nvidia will ever come out with one, and the doubt of same.

 

[MrK6]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
FUD post is FUD.

Obviously both nVidia and ATI/AMD have portfolios of patents, as does MS. No, this patent does not mean there is something to fear from buying a non-nVidia graphics card.

If you keep this substantiated logic up, some people are going to lose their wood.

 

[MegaWorks]

Wreckage man dude!!! Did you work for ATI before getting fired. I mean I've never seen someone hate ATI as much as you!

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
Did you work for ATI before getting fired. I mean I've never seen someone hate ATI as much as you!

Hector Ruiz ran over his cat maybe?

 

[gorobei]

i've never really heard of or noticed wreckage before all this 5870/fermi stuff, but i'm never going to view anymore topics he start again.
they are absolute wastes of time.

 

[mmnno]

Wow, this crap almost makes me miss...nah, I won't say it.